U.S. patent number 10,099,870 [Application Number 14/433,561] was granted by the patent office on 2018-10-16 for handling device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ebner Industrieofenbau GMBH. The grantee listed for this patent is EBNER INDUSTRIEOFENBAU GMBH. Invention is credited to Fritz Josef Ebner, Robert Ebner, Rudolf Steinheimer.
United States Patent |
10,099,870 |
Ebner , et al. |
October 16, 2018 |
Handling device
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a handling device
for handling a metal component part between a furnace device and a
further processing device. The handling device comprises a
temperature-control chamber, in which the metal component part can
be inserted, and a conveying device. The temperature-control
chamber comprises a temperature-control unit that adjusts a
temperature in the temperature-control chamber. The
temperature-control chamber can be conveyed between a receiving
position, in which the metal component part can be conveyed from
the furnace device into the temperature-control chamber, and a
dispensing position, in which the metal component part can be
conveyed from the temperature control chamber to the further
processing device. The conveying device is configured in such a
manner that the metal component part can be conveyed in the
receiving position by means of the conveying device between the
furnace device and the temperature-control chamber and that the
metal component part can be conveyed in the dispensing position by
means of the conveying device between the temperature-control
chamber and the further processing device.
Inventors: |
Ebner; Robert (Leonding,
AT), Ebner; Fritz Josef (Wilhering, AT),
Steinheimer; Rudolf (Micheldorf, AT) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EBNER INDUSTRIEOFENBAU GMBH |
Leonding |
N/A |
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ebner Industrieofenbau GMBH
(Leonding, AT)
|
Family
ID: |
49301496 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/433,561 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2013 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 02, 2013 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP2013/070554 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 03, 2015 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2014/053550 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 10, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150225189 A1 |
Aug 13, 2015 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 4, 2012 [DE] |
|
|
10 2012 218 159 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F27D
3/06 (20130101); B21J 1/06 (20130101); F27B
9/028 (20130101); B21J 5/06 (20130101); B65G
65/005 (20130101); F27B 9/40 (20130101); B65G
49/00 (20130101); B65G 69/20 (20130101); C21D
9/0018 (20130101); B65G 65/02 (20130101); F27B
9/24 (20130101); B65G 2201/02 (20130101); C21D
1/673 (20130101); C21D 2221/00 (20130101); B65G
2203/0266 (20130101); B65G 2814/02 (20130101); C21D
9/48 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B21D
22/02 (20060101); B21J 5/06 (20060101); B65G
49/00 (20060101); B65G 65/00 (20060101); B65G
69/20 (20060101); F27D 3/06 (20060101); F27B
9/40 (20060101); F27B 9/02 (20060101); F27B
9/24 (20060101); C21D 9/00 (20060101); B21J
1/06 (20060101); B65G 65/02 (20060101); C21D
9/48 (20060101); C21D 1/673 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;72/419 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1051873 |
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2383845 |
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102000813 |
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201873713 |
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201981233 |
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Sep 2011 |
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CN |
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102517434 |
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Jun 2012 |
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CN |
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102643015 |
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Aug 2012 |
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CN |
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102695809 |
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Sep 2012 |
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CN |
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31 02 638 |
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Nov 1981 |
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DE |
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10 2009 019 496 |
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DE |
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10 2009 042 026 |
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DE |
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10 2010 060 207 |
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2 204 460 |
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EP |
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52-160606 |
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JP |
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Oct 2007 |
|
JP |
|
WO 2010/127837 |
|
Nov 2010 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
First Chinese Office action issued in parallel Chinese Application
No. 201380052186.9 dated Apr. 11, 2016 with English Translation.
cited by applicant .
International Search Report and Written Opinion corresponding to
PCT/EP2013/070554, dated Mar. 17, 2014, 10 pages. cited by
applicant .
Notice of Reasons for Rejection issued by the Japan Patent Office
in parallel Japanese Application No. 2015-535007, dated Jun. 20,
2017, 6 pages. cited by applicant .
Notice of Allowance issued in parallel Japanese Application No.
2015-535007, dated Feb. 27, 2018, 3 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Jones; David B
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A handling device for handling a metal component part between a
furnace device and a further processing device, wherein the
handling device comprises: a temperature-control chamber, into
which the metal component part can be placed, wherein the
temperature-control chamber comprises a temperature-control unit
for temperature controlling the metal component part, and wherein
the temperature-control unit is an electric heating element, a
traversing device wherein the temperature-control chamber can be
displaced between a receiving position, in which the metal
component part can be conveyed from the furnace device into the
temperature-control chamber, and a dispensing position, in which
the metal component part can be conveyed from the
temperature-control chamber to the further processing device, and a
conveying device wherein in the receiving position the metal
component part can be conveyed between the furnace device and the
temperature-control chamber by the conveying device and/or that in
the dispensing position the metal component part can be conveyed
between the temperature-control chamber and the further processing
device by the conveying device.
2. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
temperature-control chamber can be displaced between a plurality of
spaced-apart receiving positions, in which the metal component part
can be conveyed from the furnace device into the
temperature-control chamber, and the dispensing position.
3. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
temperature-control chamber comprises at least one opening, through
which the metal component part can be conveyed into the
temperature-control chamber, and wherein the temperature-control
chamber furthermore comprises a closing device wherein the opening
can be selectively closed.
4. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
traversing device comprises a belt drive, a chain drive, a
hydraulic drive, an electric drive and/or a linear motor.
5. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein spatial
regions in the temperature-control chamber can be tempered in a
controlled manner in order to act upon the metal component part
with a location-dependent temperature profile in the
temperature-control chamber.
6. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a
temperature of the metal component part can be adjusted in at least
one of the spatial regions by guiding a fluid with a predetermined
temperature in the respective spatial region.
7. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a housing
or a housing section of the temperature-control chamber can be
heated up to a predetermined temperature such that the metal
component part can be acted upon with a location-dependent
temperature profile in the temperature-control chamber.
8. The handling device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the
temperature-control unit comprises at least one fluid channel,
through which the fluid is guided.
9. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
electric heating element can be controlled so that a housing or a
housing section can be heated up with a predetermined temperature
such that the metal component part can be acted upon with a
location-dependent temperature profile in the temperature-control
chamber.
10. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
conveying device is coupled to the temperature-control chamber so
that the conveying device can be moved into and out of the
temperature-control chamber.
11. The handling device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
conveying device is situated in the temperature-control chamber
during the displacement of the temperature-control chamber between
the receiving position and the dispensing position.
12. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
conveying device comprises a conveying fork for receiving the metal
component part.
13. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the metal
component part can be placed into the temperature-control chamber
without contacting a housing of the temperature-control
chamber.
14. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the metal
component part forms a contact area with the temperature-control
chamber when the metal component part is situated in the
temperature-control chamber.
15. The handling device as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising: a control unit that controls the temperature-control
chamber, the traversing device and the conveying device to handle
the metal component part according to the following steps:
displacing the temperature-control chamber into the receiving
position, conveying the metal component part from the furnace
device into the temperature-control chamber by the conveying device
when the temperature-control chamber is displaced into the
receiving position, displacing the temperature-control chamber into
the dispensing position, and conveying the metal component part
from the temperature-control chamber to the further processing
device by the conveying device when the temperature-control chamber
is displaced into the dispensing position.
16. A temperature-control unit for tempering a metal component
part, wherein the temperature-control unit comprises: a furnace
device for heating up the metal component part; and a handling
device as set forth in claim 1 for handling the metal component
part between the furnace device and the further processing
device.
17. The temperature-control unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein
the furnace device comprises at least a first furnace module and a
second furnace module, wherein the first furnace module is spaced
apart from the second furnace module, wherein the metal component
part can be heated up in the first furnace module and an additional
metal component part can be heated up in the second furnace module,
and wherein the handling device is adapted so that the
temperature-control chamber can be displaced into the receiving
position, in which the metal component part can be conveyed from
the first furnace module into the temperature-control chamber, and
that the temperature-control chamber can be displaced into an
additional receiving position, in which the additional metal
component part can be conveyed from the second furnace module into
the temperature-control chamber.
18. The temperature-control unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein
the further processing device comprises a forming tool for forming
the metal component part or a press-hardening tool for purposefully
cooling and forming the metal component part.
19. A method for handling a metal component part by a handling
device, wherein the handling method comprises the steps of:
displacing a temperature-control chamber into a receiving position,
wherein the temperature-control chamber comprises a
temperature-control unit for tempering the metal component part,
and wherein the temperature-control unit is an electrical heating
element, conveying the metal component part from a furnace device
into the temperature-control chamber by a conveying device when the
temperature-control chamber is displaced into the receiving
position, tempering the metal component part in the
temperature-control chamber, displacing the temperature-control
chamber into a dispensing position, and conveying the metal
component part from the temperature-control chamber to a further
processing device by the conveying device when the temperature
chamber is displaced into the receiving position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a National Phase Patent Application and claims
priority to and the benefit of International Application Number
PCT/EP2013/070554, filed on Oct. 2, 2013, which claims priority to
and the benefit of German Patent Application Number 10 2012 218
159.8, filed on Oct. 4, 2012, the entire disclosures of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present invention pertains to a handling device
for handling a metal component part between a furnace device and a
further processing device, a temperature-control unit for producing
a metal component part and a method for handling a metal component
part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the metal processing industry such as, for example, in the
construction of vehicle bodies, it is preferred to use component
parts that have a low weight as well as a desired strength and a
desired deformation characteristics. Press-hardened component parts
that are produced of high-strength steels and have areas of
different ductility are used, for example, in regions of the
vehicle body that are subjected to in particular high stresses in
case of a crash. Examples of such component parts are the A column
and B column, the bumper and the door impact beams of a motor
vehicle.
Component parts with regions of different ductility are produced,
for example, by means of press-hardening. A starting material or a
blank is heated prior to the press-hardening process and is
subsequently formed in a press-hardening tool and quenched. For
this purpose, the press-hardening tool may comprise devices for
cooling or heating the blank.
In order to realize the desired ductility in certain areas of the
component part, different structures (e.g. martensitic structures
or ferrite) can be adjusted in said regions by means of different
cooling times during the hardening of the component part. The more
precisely the temperature of the component part can be controlled
during the hardening process, the more accurately the desired
structure can be adjusted. However, it is very difficult to specify
the temperatures and the cooling times during the production
because, for example, distances between the furnace and a further
processing device will have to be traversed in which distances the
component part cools down in a not controllable manner.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
There may be a need to develop a handling device for a metal
component part with certain ductile properties, wherein more
accurate temperatures of the metal and more accurate cooling down
times can be specified during the production process.
This need is met by a handling device for handling a metal
component part between a furnace device and a further processing
device, with a temperature-control unit for producing a metal
component part and by means of a method for handling a metal
component part according to the independent claims.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a handling
device for handling a metal component part between a furnace device
and a further processing device is described. The handling device
comprises a temperature-control chamber, into which the metal
component part can be placed. The temperature-control chamber
comprises a temperature-control unit for tempering the metal
component part. The temperature-control unit adjusts a temperature
in the temperature-control chamber. The temperature-control chamber
furthermore comprises a traversing device that is designed in such
a way that the temperature-control chamber can be displaced between
a receiving position and a dispensing position. In the receiving
position, the metal component part can be conveyed from the furnace
device into the temperature-control chamber and in the dispensing
position the metal component part can be conveyed from the
temperature-control chamber to the further processing device. A
conveying device is designed in such a way that in the receiving
position the metal component part can be conveyed between the
furnace device and the temperature-control chamber and in the
dispensing position the metal component part can be conveyed
between the temperature-control chamber and the dispensing
position.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a handling method for
handling a metal component part is described. According to the
handling method, a temperature-control chamber of a handling device
is displaced into a receiving position, in which the metal
component part can be received from a furnace device into the
temperature-control chamber, by means of a traversing device. The
temperature-control chamber comprises a temperature-control unit
for tempering the metal component part. The metal component part is
conveyed from the furnace device into the temperature-control
chamber by means of a conveying device. The temperature-control
chamber is displaced into a dispensing position, in which the metal
component part can be transferred from the temperature-control
chamber to a further processing device. The metal component part is
conveyed from the temperature-control chamber to the dispensing
position by means of the conveying device. The temperature-control
unit tempers the metal component part when the metal component part
is situated in the temperature-control chamber. For example, the
temperature-control unit adjusts a specified temperature in the
temperature-control chamber for this purpose.
In the context of the present application, the term metal component
part describes a metal work piece or a semi-finished product (metal
blank), of which a component part with a desired shape and
ductility is produced. The metal component part is, e.g., a metal
blank. For example, the metal blank is a metal sheet with a
thickness of less than approximately 2 cm, in particular less than
approximately 1 cm. A metal structure such as, for example, a motor
vehicle component can be produced by means of the metal component
part. The motor vehicle component may represent, for example, an
A-column or B-column of a motor vehicle, a bumper or a door impact
beam of a motor vehicle.
The metal component part may consist of a steel that may contain
production-related impurities in addition to iron. For example, the
metal component part may furthermore contain alloying constituents
such as (in wt.-%) C: 0.02-0.6%, Mn: 0.5-2.0%, Al: 0.01-0.06%, Si:
0.1% up to 0.4%, Cr: 0.1% up to 1.2%, P: 0 up to 0.035% and S: 0 up
to 0.035%. In addition, the metal component part may contain one or
more elements of the group comprising Ti, B, M, Ni, Cu and/or N,
wherein the Ti content may lie between 0 and 0.05%, the Cu content
may lie between 0 and 0.01%, the B content may lie between 0.0008
and 0.005%, the Mo content may lie between 0 and 0.3%, the Ni
content may lie between 0 and 0.4% and the N content may lie
between 0 and 0.01%. The respective C content is in particular
important with regard to the strength of the component part. The
Si, Mn, Cr and B contents serve, for example, for forming the
bainite and reduce the formation of larger quantities of martensite
in the structure of the component part.
The furnace device serves for heating up the metal component part
in order to subsequently further process this metal component part
in a hardening process, in particular a press-hardening process.
The metal component part is heated, in particular, to the
austenitizing temperature in the furnace device. For example, the
austenitizing temperature lies between approximately 750.degree. C.
and approximately 1000.degree. C., wherein the lower limit of the
austenitizing temperature depends on the material of the metal
component part (steel and alloying proportions). The structure in
the metal component part is completely austenitic above the
austenitizing temperature.
For example, the furnace device may comprise a plurality of
additional furnace levels or furnace modules that are arranged, for
example, adjacent to one another or on top of one another. A
corresponding metal component part can be placed into each of the
furnace modules and heated. The temperature-control chamber can be
displaced into a corresponding plurality of different receiving
positions such that the corresponding metal component parts can be
removed from the respective furnace modules and conveyed into the
temperature-control chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the furnace
device comprises, in particular, six to eight furnace levels or
furnace modules that are arranged on top of one another.
In the following, the further processing device may consist of a
simple delivery table, onto which the metal component part can be
placed. Further, the further processing device may also comprise a
tool such as, e.g., a forming tool or in particular a
press-hardening tool. The tool may furthermore be considered as to
be an assembly unit or a welding robot.
The traversing device may comprise, for example, a frame of metal
beams, along which guide rails are arranged. For example, the
temperature-control chamber may be arranged on or coupled to these
guide rails in a displaceable manner.
The temperature-control chamber comprises, for example, a housing
that forms an internal volume, into which the metal component part
can be placed. The housing of the temperature-control chamber may
be produced of a metallic body. The temperature-control chamber may
furthermore comprise two housing halves that can be moved relative
to one another. In this case, the housing halves can be moved apart
from one another in order to access the internal volume and place
the metal component part therein. The housing halves can then once
again be moved towards one another in order to enclose the internal
volume.
The temperature-control unit is designed in such a way that the
housing or the inner surface of the housing respectively has at
least one temperature region with a desired temperature. In
addition, the temperature-control unit may be designed in such a
way that a plurality of different temperature regions can be
adjusted at the housing or at the inner surface thereof such that
corresponding temperature zones or tempered spatial regions can be
respectively adjusted in the internal volume of the
temperature-control chamber. Adjacent spatial regions can be
adjusted by purposefully tempering the corresponding temperature
regions of the housing or by means of the direct inflow of a
tempered fluid into the corresponding spatial regions. For example,
the spatial regions may have the same temperature or
correspondingly different temperatures as required.
As passive temperature-control units insulating devices such as,
for example, insulating mats or cavities for insulation may be
provided in order to realize the temperature-control chamber with
insulating and tempering properties.
The temperature-control unit as an active temperature-control unit
comprises, for example, heating devices and/or cooling devices in
order to adjust desired temperatures in the internal volume and, in
particular, in individual spatial regions of the internal volume.
The temperature-control chamber can be heated and/or cooled by
means of the temperature-control unit. In this way, the metal
component part arranged in a designated position in the internal
volume of the temperature-control chamber can be maintained at a
desired temperature, in particular in an isothermal fashion.
Furthermore, the metal component part can be cooled in the
temperature-control chamber by specifying a corresponding
temperature in the temperature zones or spatial regions of the
temperature-control chamber. Consequently, a desired temperature
profile or cooling profile of the metal component part can be
specified in the temperature-control chamber, in particular in a
spatial region of the internal volume of the temperature-control
chamber. Due to the tempering of the different spatial regions,
certain areas of the metal component part can be acted upon with
locally different temperature profiles. In other words, a first
area of the metal component part situated in a first spatial region
of the temperature-control chamber can be acted upon with a first
temperature profile and a second area of the metal component part
situated in a second spatial region of the temperature-control
chamber can be acted upon with a second temperature profile. In
addition, the active temperature-control unit may comprise
tempering elements (e.g. the above-described insulating elements)
of the passive temperature-control unit.
A temperature profile (e.g. a cooling profile) describes a course
of temperature (e.g. of an area) of the metal component part along
a certain time history (temperature/time). A temperature profile
may also comprise a time segment with a constant temperature
(so-called isothermal soaking) or a time segment with an increasing
temperature. While the metal component part cools, different
structural portions adjust themselves in the metal component part
depending on the temperature and the cooling speed, wherein these
structural portions significantly influence the ductility of the
finished component part. For example, a metal component part with a
high martensite content is less ductile than a metal component part
with a high pearlite content.
The temperature in the internal volume of the temperature-control
chamber can be adjusted, for example, between approximately
100.degree. C. and approximately 800.degree. C. When the metal
component part is uniformly heated in the temperature-control
chamber, the temperature in the internal volume of the
temperature-control chamber can essentially be maintained constant
between about 930.degree. C. and 980.degree. C. The tempering of
the temperature-control chamber makes it possible, for example, to
act upon regions of metal component part with a temperature
profile, according to which the metal component part can be cooled
or heated with speeds between approximately 3 K/s and approximately
20 K/s. When the metal component part is heated, the heating speed
may in particular lie between approximately 1 K/s and approximately
20 K/s. The tempering of the temperature-control chamber also makes
it possible, for example, to quench areas of the metal component
part, i.e. cooling speeds between approximately 40 K/s and
approximately 200 K/s can be achieved.
Which structures adjust within the metal component part during the
heating, preserving or cooling phase can be gathered from a
time-temperature transformation diagram (TTT diagram). In a TTT
diagram, the structural development is plotted as a function of
different courses of temperature or cooling speeds during the
cooling phase.
A desired structure (e.g. martensitic, bainitic, ferritic or
pearlitic) or a mixed structure consisting of several structural
portions therefore is formed during the cooling phase. In order to
solidify the desired structure or mixed structure, the metal
component part is then swiftly cooled (or quenched) such that, for
example, the desired structure is also present in the metal
component part at room temperature.
The metal component part is tempered in the temperature-control
chamber in accordance with a predetermined temperature profile. For
example, the metal component part or a desired region of the metal
component part is intermediately cooled to a predetermined
temperature and isothermally preserved until the dispensing
position is reached. The temperature-control unit may also have a
sufficient cooling capacity for quenching the metal component part
in the temperature-control chamber. The term quenching refers to
cooling a metal component part, for example, with a cooling speed
between approximately 40 K/s and approximately 200 K/s.
Since the metal component part is held in a predetermined position
in the internal volume of the temperature-control chamber, desired
regions of the metal component part can be purposefully tempered by
controlling the temperature in the spatial regions of the internal
volume of the temperature-control chamber accordingly. In this way,
first regions of the metal component part may, for example, be
acted upon with a first temperature profile in the
temperature-control chamber and second regions can be acted upon
with a second temperature profile. For example, a first region of
the temperature profile can be maintained at a certain temperature
while second regions of the metal component part are cooled or
quenched.
The conveying device for conveying the metal component part may
either be arranged stationary or such that it can be displaced
between the receiving position and the dispensing position together
with the temperature-control chamber. The conveying device may be
directly arranged at the temperature-control chamber or arranged in
a displaceable manner at an external frame consisting of metal
beams. In the receiving position, the conveying device moves into
the furnace device and conveys the metal component part from the
furnace device into the temperature-control chamber. In this case,
the conveying device may, for example, move underneath the metal
component part and subsequently lift the metal component part.
Accordingly, the metal component part then lies on the conveying
device. Additionally or alternatively, the conveying device may
comprise gripping elements that actively take hold of the metal
component part in the furnace and fix the metal component part on
the conveying device.
In the temperature-control chamber, the conveying device can
deposit the metal component part and subsequently the conveying
device can firstly receive and convey the metal component part once
again in the dispensing position. Alternatively, the metal
component part is permanently held in the temperature-control
chamber by means of the conveying device such that the conveying
device takes hold of the metal component part in the receiving
position and only releases the metal component part again in the
dispensing position.
The conveying device is, in particular, an asynchronous conveyor
that conveys the metal component part from the furnace device into
the chamber in the receiving position, subsequently, during the
displacement of the chamber from the receiving position into the
dispensing position, holds the metal component part in the
temperature-control chamber, and ultimately conveys the metal
component part from the chamber to the further processing device in
the dispensing position.
The conveying device may comprise, for example, a conveying fork or
a loading fork, e.g., with several parallel supporting rods or a
supporting grate, onto which the metal component part can be placed
for the purpose of carriage. The conveying device may furthermore
comprise a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain in order to
correspondingly drive, for example, the conveying fork or other
supporting devices, on which the metal component part lies. In
addition, the conveying device may comprise a conveying robot with
a gripper arm for actively gripping the metal component part. For
example, the gripper arm may comprise clamping devices or suction
cups for receiving the metal component part.
With the described handling device there is allowed an efficient
production of a metal component part with certain structural
regions and corresponding ductile properties. The handling device
bridges the distance between the furnace device and a further
processing device such as, e.g., the finishing tool. During the
transfer of the metal component part from the furnace to the
further processing device, the tempered temperature-control chamber
acts upon corresponding regions of the metal component part with a
desired temperature profile.
In conventional production methods, an undefined and uncontrollable
temperature deviation occurs during a transfer of the metal
component part from the furnace to the further processing device
and causes an undefined and uncontrollable structure in the
finished metal component part. With the inventive handling device
there is created a temperature-controlled environment for the metal
component part during its transfer from the furnace device to the
further processing device. In addition, the metal component part is
already acted upon with a desired temperature profile during the
transfer between the furnace device and the further processing
device, i.e. the metal component part is subjected to a cooling
process or an isothermal preserving. Furthermore, the internal
volume of the temperature-control chamber can be divided into (e.g.
differently) tempered spatial regions by means of the
temperature-control unit such that different regions of the metal
component part can be differently heated, isothermally preserved or
cooled, i.e. acted upon with desired temperature profiles, during
the transfer with the temperature-control chamber. In this way,
desired structural properties can already be adjusted in the metal
component part during the transport in the temperature-control
chamber.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the traversing device is
designed in such a way that the temperature-control chamber can be
displaced between a plurality of spaced-apart receiving positions,
in which the metal component part can be conveyed from the furnace
device into the temperature-control chamber, and the dispensing
position. By means of this exemplary embodiment, the
temperature-control chamber can, in a manner of speaking, remove
metal component parts from different spaced-apart furnace levels
and deliver these metal component parts to a common further
processing device or a common dispensing position.
The temperature-control chamber may alternatively also be arranged
in such a way that it can be displaced not only into a plurality of
additional spaced-apart receiving positions, but also into a
plurality of additional dispensing positions such as, for example,
different further processing devices by means of the traversing
device.
The temperature-control chamber can be displaced, in particular,
horizontally between the furnace device and the further processing
device and/or vertically or up and down between the furnace device
and the further processing device.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the temperature-control
chamber comprises at least one opening, through which the metal
component part can be placed into the temperature-control chamber.
The temperature-control chamber may furthermore comprise a closing
device (movable flap, slide or door), by means of which the opening
can be selectively closed. Due to this closing device, the internal
volume can be isolated during the displacement of the chamber
between the receiving position and the dispensing position. In this
way, the temperature-control chamber can be tempered in a more
effective and more exact fashion. The closing device opens the
opening in the receiving position and in the dispensing position
such that the metal component part can be respectively placed into
the temperature-control chamber or removed from the
temperature-control chamber. Accordingly, an opening may be
arranged in the temperature-control chamber in order to receive the
metal component part in the receiving position and an additional
opening may be arranged in the temperature-control chamber in order
to remove the metal component part from the temperature-control
chamber. The additional opening can accordingly be closed by means
of an additional closing device.
The (additional) closing device may comprise corresponding flaps or
closing elements in order to selectively open or close the opening
or the additional opening.
Furthermore, the closing device may be realized in the form of a
lifting device and the housing may be formed of two or more parts.
For example, the housing may consist of an upper housing shell and
a lower housing shell, wherein the lifting device is designed for
moving the upper housing shell and the lower housing shell towards
one another into a closed position or apart from one another into
an open position. The internal volume of the temperature-control
chamber is accessible in the open position such that the conveying
device can convey the component part into or out of the
temperature-control chamber. In the closed position, the housing
shells form a closed and isolated housing.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the traversing device
comprises a drive device for displacing the temperature-control
chamber. For example, the traversing device comprises a belt drive,
a chain drive, a hydraulic drive, an electric drive and/or a linear
motor.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the temperature-control
unit is designed in such a way that spatial regions in the
temperature-control chamber can be tempered in a controlled fashion
in order to act upon the metal component part with a
location-dependent temperature profile in the temperature
chamber.
The temperature-control unit is designed, for example, in such a
way that the temperature of the metal component part can be
adjusted in at least one of the spatial regions by conveying a
fluid with a predetermined temperature into the respective spatial
region. For example, the fluid with a predetermined temperature can
be introduced into at least one of the spatial regions of the
internal volume. The fluid may be, for example, a tempered gas, a
vapor or a liquid. Furthermore, the fluid may be introduced under
pressure in order to achieve an effective tempering process. In
other words, the temperature-control unit can introduce, for
example, compressed air or a (protective) gas with high oxygen
content into predefined spatial regions of the internal volume of
the temperature chamber with a desired temperature. In this way, a
predetermined temperature is adjusted in the spatial regions.
For this purpose, (gas) nozzles may be arranged at the inner wall
of the housing of the temperature-control chamber, wherein said
nozzles can be selectively activated in order to introduce
correspondingly tempered fluid. In addition, blower openings may be
arranged on the inner wall such that a blower can introduce a
volume flow of correspondingly tempered fluid into respective
spatial regions of the internal volume.
The above-described temperature-control unit comprises a
circulation system in order to effectively implement the
temperature-control unit. The circulation system comprises suction
nozzles or suction openings in the inner wall of the chamber.
Accordingly, the fluid introduced into certain spatial regions of
the temperature-control chamber with a predetermined temperature
can be removed through these suction nozzles or suction openings.
Subsequently, the removed fluid can be tempered anew and
reintroduced in order to temper the spatial regions in the internal
volume.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the temperature-control
unit is designed in such a way that the housing or a housing
section of the temperature-control chamber can be heated with a
predetermined temperature such that the metal component part or a
region of the metal component part can be acted upon with a
location-dependent temperature profile in the temperature-control
chamber. The inner wall of the housing, in particular, can be
heated with a predetermined temperature such that the desired
spatial regions can be correspondingly tempered in the spatial
regions of the internal volume. Certain regions of the inner wall
in particular can be heated differently.
For example, the temperature-control unit comprises at least one
fluid channel, through which the fluid is conveyed. A fluid channel
may extend, in particular, at the inner side of the housing that is
directed towards the internal volume or an opposite outer side of
the housing, wherein a fluid (such as, for example, a tempered gas
or a liquid) can be introduced into said fluid channel with a
certain temperature in order to adjust the regions of the inner
wall and therefore the spatial regions of the internal volume. The
fluid channel may furthermore extend along the housing in a
meander-shaped fashion. The fluid channel may comprise different
channel branches that extend along the housing. Each channel branch
can be selectively activated, e.g., by means of the control unit
such that the fluid with a predetermined temperature flows through
the respectively activated channel branch. The channel branches
therefore cover regions of the housing such that these regions can
be purposefully heated. These regions of the housing then
correspondingly temper the spatial regions of the internal volume
by means of radiant heating or cooling.
Alternatively or additionally to the fluid channel and its channel
branches, the temperature-control unit may also comprise an
electric heating element. The electric heating element can be
controlled in such a way that the housing or a housing section can
be heated with a predetermined temperature such that the metal
component part can be acted upon with a location-dependent
temperature profile in the temperature-control chamber. The heating
element is, for example, a heat radiator such as an infrared
radiator and may be arranged along the inner wall of the housing in
order to purposefully heat the regions of the housing.
The housing may furthermore be covered with a heatable ceramic
element or ceramic coating at its inner side in the direction of
the internal volume in order to respectively realize radiant
heating or radiant cooling by means of the heatable (e.g. glowing)
ceramic element or the cooled ceramic element.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the conveying device is
coupled to the temperature-control chamber in such a way that the
conveying device can be moved into and out of the
temperature-control chamber. In addition, the conveying device may
also remain or stay in the temperature-control chamber during the
displacement of the temperature-control chamber between the
receiving position and the dispensing position.
When the conveying device or the part of the conveying device
carrying or taking hold of the metal component part is situated in
the internal volume, the conveying device is heated to and
maintained at a desired temperature. This means that no temperature
difference at all or only a slight temperature difference exists
between the conveying device and the metal component part in the
contact region of the conveying device with the metal component
part in the receiving position. Consequently, the metal component
part is gently received by the conveying device without causing
excessive cooling or heating of the metal component part in the
contact region with the conveying device when the metal component
part is received. This reduces thermal tensions in the component
part when the metal component part is received by the conveying
device.
For example, the conveying device is pre-heated to a desired
temperature in the temperature-control chamber by means of the
temperature-control unit before the conveying device receives the
metal component part in the receiving position. If the conveying
device is purposefully pre-cooled, for example, the region of the
metal component part contacting the conveying device can be
purposefully cooled or quenched when the metal component part is
received by the conveying device.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the temperature-control
chamber is designed in such a way that there is no contact or
virtually no contact between the metal component part and the
housing or its inner wall when the metal component part is situated
in the internal volume of the temperature-control chamber.
For example, certain holding elements for holding the metal
component part may be arranged in the temperature-control chamber
in order to realize a clearance between the inner wall of the
housing and the metal component part. The conveying device may
furthermore be realized in the form of a holding element in the
temperature-control chamber in order to thusly prevent the metal
component part from contacting the inner wall. In this way, an air
cushion is formed in a gap between the inner wall and the metal
component part. This air cushion can positively affect the
insulating properties of the temperature-control chamber.
In another exemplary embodiment, the temperature-control chamber is
designed in such a way that the metal component part contacts the
inner wall of the housing of the temperature-control chamber at
least in certain regions when the metal component part is situated
in the internal volume of the temperature chamber. A desired
temperature of the metal component part can be adjusted in a faster
and more effective manner in the contact regions between the inner
wall and the metal component part. For example, the direct contact
of regions of the inner wall with regions of the metal component
part makes it possible to quench these areas. The regions of the
inner wall may be cooled, for example, in order to allow rapid
quenching of the contacting areas of the metal component part. For
example, the entire metal component part may also be in contact
with the inner wall such that the entire metal component part or
regions of the metal component part can be quickly and effectively
adjusted to a certain temperature.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the handling device
comprises a control unit that controls the temperature-control
chamber, the traversing device and/or the conveying device in such
a way that the following procedure for handling the metal component
part can be carried out:
displacing the temperature-control chamber into the receiving
position, in which the metal component part can be transferred from
the furnace device into the temperature-control chamber,
conveying the metal component part from the furnace device into the
temperature-control chamber by means of the conveying device,
displacing the temperature-control chamber into the dispensing
position, in which the metal component part can be transferred from
the temperature-control chamber to the further processing
device,
tempering the metal component part by means of a
temperature-control unit of the temperature-control chamber,
and
conveying the metal component part from the temperature-control
chamber to the dispensing position by means of the conveying
device.
For example, the control unit may carry out a programmable process.
The control unit may furthermore comprise a database, in which the
desired temperatures for the desired spatial regions of the
internal volume are stored and from which said temperatures can be
retrieved by the processor. In addition, the control coordinates of
the temperature-control chamber, the temperature-control unit, the
traversing device and the conveying device may be stored as
parameters in the database. It would also be possible to store the
corresponding coordinates of the furnace device, in particular the
individual furnace levels, as well as of the corresponding
receiving positions and dispensing positions. Furthermore, certain
parameters for the identification of certain metal component parts
may be stored in the database. For example, parameters of the
geometry and of the material composition of different metal
component parts may be stored. The user can input, for example, the
shape, the material and the desired ductility of the metal
component part, whereupon the processor invokes corresponding
process parameters (temperature, cooling times or temperature
profiles, motion coordinates for the temperature-control chamber
and for the conveying device, as well as corresponding coordinates
for the receiving positions and dispensing positions) and the
handling device is controlled accordingly by the control unit. The
control unit can also control the furnace device such that a
desired temperature exists in the corresponding furnace levels.
It should be noted that embodiments of the invention were described
with reference to different aspects of the invention. A few
embodiments of the invention are described, in particular, with
reference to device claims and other embodiments of the invention
are described with reference to procedural claims. Upon reading
this application, however, it will immediately become clear to a
person skilled in the art that, if not explicitly indicated
otherwise, not only features pertaining to one aspect of the
invention can be combined, but features pertaining to different
aspects of the invention also can be arbitrarily combined.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to further elucidate and better understand embodiments of
the present invention, exemplary embodiments thereof are described
in greater detail below with reference to the attached
drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a temperature-control unit according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a temperature-control unit
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
and
FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 schematically show a temperature-control chamber
with exemplary embodiments of the temperature-control unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Identical or similar component parts are identified by the same
reference symbols in the figures. The figures merely show schematic
illustrations.
FIG. 1 shows a temperature-control unit for tempering a metal
component part 130. The temperature-control unit comprises a
furnace device 140 for heating the metal component part 130 and a
handling device 100 for handling the metal component part 130
between the furnace device 140 and a further processing device.
According to FIG. 1, the furnace device 140 comprises, for example,
eight furnace modules 141 to 148. The furnace modules 141 to 148
are spaced apart from one another and arranged, for example, on top
of one another. A corresponding metal component part 130 can be
pre-heated to a desired temperature such as, for example, an
austenitizing temperature in excess of 750.degree. C. in each of
the furnace modules 141 to 148.
The handling device 100 comprises a temperature-control chamber
110, into which the metal component part 130 can be respectively
placed or inserted. The temperature-control chamber 110 comprises a
temperature-control unit that can adjust a temperature in the
temperature-control chamber 110. In FIG. 1, the temperature-control
chamber 110 is illustrated in a receiving position I, in an
intermediate position and in a dispensing position II. The
temperature-control chamber 110 can be respectively displaced
vertically or up and down as illustrated in an exemplary fashion in
FIG. 1.
In the receiving position I, the metal component part 130 can be
conveyed from the furnace device 140 (or one of the furnace modules
141 to 148) whereas the metal component part 130 can in the
dispensing position II be conveyed from the temperature-control
chamber 110 to the further processing device (such as, e.g., a
delivery table or a forming tool).
In order to convey the metal component part 130, the handling
device 100 comprises a conveying device 120 that is designed in
such a way that the metal component part 130 can in the receiving
position I of the temperature-control chamber 110 be conveyed
between the furnace device 140 and the temperature-control chamber
110 and the metal component part 130 can in the dispensing position
II be conveyed between the temperature-control chamber 110 and the
dispensing position.
The temperature-control chamber 110 comprises, for example, a
housing with an inner wall 112 that forms an internal volume 111.
The metal component part 130 can be placed into the internal volume
111. The temperature-control unit is furthermore designed in such a
way that several spatial regions T1, T2, T3 of the internal volume
111 can be purposefully tempered. The temperature-control unit may
comprise, for example, an electric heating element or a
fluid-cooled tempering element (such as, for example, a fluid
channel) arranged at the inner wall 112. Furthermore, the spatial
regions T1, T2, T3 can be adjusted by respectively introducing a
correspondingly tempered fluid into the internal volume 111 or into
one of the spatial regions T1, T2, T3.
In FIG. 1, the furnace modules 141 to 148 of the furnace device 140
are arranged on top of one another. Accordingly, a traversing
device can displace the temperature-control chamber 110 vertically
or up and down in order to reach each of the furnace modules 141 to
148.
Once the temperature-control chamber 110 has arrived in the
receiving position I of a desired furnace module 141 to 148, the
conveying device 120 moves into the corresponding furnace module
141 to 148 in order to receive the metal component part 130 being
heated therein. Subsequently, the conveying device 120 moves into
the internal volume 111 of the temperature-control chamber 110. In
the next step, the temperature-control chamber 110 is
correspondingly displaced from the receiving position I into the
dispensing position II by means of the traversing device.
During the displacement of the temperature-control chamber 110, the
conveying device 120 can be positioned in the internal volume 111
in order to correspondingly temper the conveying device. The
conveying device 120 therefore has the same temperature as the
internal volume 111 and accordingly the same temperature as the
metal component part 130 held thereon. The conveying device 120 can
hold the metal component part 130 in a desired position in the
internal volume 111 during the displacement of the
temperature-control chamber 110. The conveying device 120 may
alternatively transfer the metal component part 130 to a holding
device arranged in the internal volume 111. Furthermore, a
conveying device 120 may be arranged in the receiving position I in
order to convey the metal component part 130 into the
temperature-control chamber and an additional conveying device 120
may be arranged in the dispensing position II in order to convey
the metal component part 130 to the further processing device.
Once the temperature-control chamber 110 has arrived in the
dispensing position II, the conveying device 120 conveys the metal
component part 130 out of the internal volume 111. In the
dispensing position II, the metal component part 130 can be
transferred to a further processing device such as, for example, a
press-hardening tool with a desired temperature in order to be
further processed.
The conveying device 120, the temperature-control chamber 110 and,
if applicable, the furnace device 140 can be controlled by a
control unit 101.
The temperature-control unit is controlled, in particular, in such
a way that the internal volume 111 or the spatial regions T1, T2,
T3 in the temperature-control chamber 110 can be tempered in a
controlled fashion in order to act upon the metal component part
130 with a location-dependent temperature profile in the
temperature-control chamber 110.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the temperature-control unit
according to FIG. 1. The first furnace module 141 and the second
furnace module 142 are schematically illustrated in the furnace
device 140.
The conveying device 120 for conveying corresponding metal
component parts 130 from the first furnace module 141 into the
temperature-control chamber 120 is illustrated at the left side in
FIG. 2. In the dispensing position II, the conveying device 120' is
moved out of the temperature-control chamber 110 in order to convey
the metal component part 130, 130' to the further processing device
(see right side in FIG. 2).
As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the conveying device 120 comprises,
for example, a supporting platform that consists, e.g., of parallel
rods or of conveying or loading forks, onto which the corresponding
metal component parts 130 can be placed.
In order to receive the metal component part 130 from a
corresponding furnace module 141, 142, each furnace module 141, 142
may comprise, for example, a supporting surface, on which the metal
component part 130 lies. The supporting surface may furthermore
contain grooves or channels, into which the loading forks (or the
parallel rods) of the conveying device 120 can engage.
Subsequently, the conveying device 120 and/or the
temperature-control chamber 110 can be slightly raised vertically
such that the loading forks lift the metal component part 130 off
the supporting surface. The loading forks of the conveying device
120 can then be displaced into the internal volume 111 of the
temperature-control chamber 110 together with the received metal
component part 130.
The temperature-control chamber 110 is subsequently displaced from
the receiving position I into the dispensing position II. FIG. 2
shows a special case, in which the receiving position I of the
temperature-control chamber 110 is identical or similar to the
dispensing position II.
As it is illustrated in FIG. 2, the traversing device comprises,
e.g., a displaceable frame, at which the temperature-control
chamber 110 is mounted. The traversing device furthermore comprises
a drive unit and metal beams 201. The frame can be displaced, e.g.,
vertically or up and down along the metal beams 201 by means of the
drive unit. For example, guide rails, to which the frame is coupled
in a displaceable manner, are arranged on the metal beams 201 for
this purpose.
Once the temperature-control chamber 110 is situated in the desired
dispensing position II, the loading forks of the conveying device
120 can be moved out of the internal volume 111 and the metal
component part 130 can be transferred to a further processing
device.
FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 schematically show a temperature-control chamber
110 with exemplary embodiments of the temperature-control unit.
The temperature-control chamber 110 may consist, for example, of a
monolithic or integral body or of an upper housing shell 301 and a
lower housing shell 302 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The
temperature-control chamber 110 may comprise an opening for
inserting and removing the metal component part 130. According to
FIG. 3, the temperature-control chamber 110 may also comprise an
input opening 309 for placing the metal component part 130 into the
internal volume 111 of the temperature-control chamber 110 and an
output opening 310 for removing the metal component part 130 from
the internal volume 110. A corresponding closing device 305, 305'
may be respectively arranged at the input opening 309 and/or the
output opening 310. The closing device 305, 305' may comprise, for
example, displaceable or pivotable door elements that can be
purposefully opened and closed such that the internal volume 111
can on the one hand be accessed through the corresponding openings
309, 310 and a good insulation of the internal volume 111 is on the
other hand realized in the closed state of the openings 309,
310.
In order to purposefully temper the different spatial regions T1,
T2, T3 in the internal volume 111 of the temperature-control
chamber 110, different tempering lines 306, 307, 308 may be
provided as illustrated in an exemplary fashion in the upper
housing shell 301. For example, a fluid with a first temperature
can flow through the first tempering line 306, a fluid with a
second temperature can flow through the second tempering line 306
and a fluid with a third temperature can flow through the third
tempering line 308 such that the temperatures of the spatial
regions T1, T2, T3 are adjusted accordingly by means of radiant
heating or radiant cooling. The tempering lines 306, 307, 308 may
furthermore represent electric heating lines that correspondingly
temper the spatial regions T1, T2, T3, for example, by means of
resistance heating.
Different fluid supply lines 303, 303', 303'' that comprise
corresponding nozzle devices 304, 304', 304'' in the region of the
inner wall 112 of the temperature-control chamber 110 may be
provided as illustrated in an exemplary fashion in the lower
housing half 302 in FIG. 3. A correspondingly tempered fluid can be
conveyed in each of the fluid supply lines 303, 303', 303'' and
introduced into the internal volume 101 or into the corresponding
spatial regions T1, T2, T3 by means of the respective nozzle
devices 304, 304', 304'' in order to adjust corresponding
temperature zones in the spatial regions T1, T2, T3.
FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of the
temperature-control chamber 110. The temperature-control chamber
110 in FIG. 4 is made, for example, of a body and comprises an
opening that serves as the input opening 309 and the output opening
310. For example, a holding device 403, onto which the metal
component part 130 can be placed, may be arranged in the internal
volume 111 of the temperature-control chamber 110. The holding
device 403 may furthermore form part of the conveying device 120.
In other words, the holding device 403 may be realized, for
example, such that it can be moved into and out of the internal
volume 111.
A fourth tempering line 401 and a fifth tempering line 402 are
illustrated in an exemplary fashion in FIG. 4. The tempering lines
306, 307, 308 extend, for example, within the material of the
temperature-control chamber 110. In FIG. 4, in contrast, the fourth
tempering line 401 extends along the inner wall 112 of the
temperature-control chamber 110. The fifth tempering line 402
alternatively or additionally extends along an outer surface of the
temperature-control chamber 110.
In FIG. 5 there is shown another exemplary embodiment of the
temperature-control chamber 110. The temperature-control chamber
110 in FIG. 5 comprises a closed body that encloses the internal
volume 111. The internal volume 111 is respectively accessible via
the input opening 309 and the output opening 310. FIG. 5
furthermore shows the spatial regions T1, T2, T3 that can be
tempered by means of the respective tempering lines 306, 307, 308.
Exemplary arrangements of the respective tempering lines 306, 307,
308 are illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, the respective
tempering lines 306, 307, 308 extend in a meander-shaped manner
along the outer surface, within the material of the
temperature-control chamber 110 or along the inner wall 112 of the
temperature-control chamber 110.
A correspondingly tempered fluid can flow through each of the
tempering lines 306, 307, 308. For example, the tempering lines
306, 307, 308 respectively comprise separate fluid circuits such
that separate fluids with different temperatures can be introduced
into the respective tempering lines 306, 307, 308.
It should be noted further that, in addition to the tempered
spatial regions T1, T2, T3 illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, only
one spatial region or an arbitrary number of different spatial
regions T1, T2, T3, Tn can also be individually heated. The
features of the individual exemplary embodiments of the
temperature-control chamber 110 according to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in
particular the arrangement of the tempering lines 306, 307, 308,
401, 402 and of the openings 309, 310, may be combined with one
another.
As a supplement, it should furthermore be noted that "comprising"
does not exclude any other elements or steps and that "a" or "an"
does not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features
or steps that were described with reference to one of the above
exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other
features or steps of other above-described exemplary embodiments.
Reference symbols in the claims should not be interpreted in a
restrictive sense.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
100 Handling device 101 Control unit 110 Temperature-control
chamber 111 Internal volume 112 Inner wall 120 Conveying device 130
Metal component 140 Furnace device 141 First furnace module 142
Second furnace module 143 Third furnace module 144 Fourth furnace
module 145 Fifth furnace module 146 Sixth furnace module 147
Seventh furnace module 148 Eighth furnace module 201 Metal beam 301
Upper housing shell 302 Lower housing shell 303 Fluid supply 304
Nozzle 305 Closing device 306 First tempering line 307 Second
tempering line 308 Third tempering line 309 Input opening 310
Output opening 401 Fourth tempering line 402 Fifth tempering line
403 Holding device T1 First temperature zone T2 Second temperature
zone T3 Third temperature zone I Receiving position II Dispensing
position
* * * * *